Attention-seeking Thorpe no help to Indigenous cause

Lidia Thorpe’s crude outburst against King Charles in the federal parliament was embarrassing and counter-productive. It will stymie rather than advance efforts to improve Indigenous lives.

The loudmouthed senator has a history of attention-seeking. She often disrupts Senate proceedings, has falsely blamed police for assaulting her when being legitimately arrested, and too often berates others as, for example, when she disgustingly cast aspersions on Liberal senator Hollie Hughes. Peter Dutton is right to argue she should resign from a system she does not believe in. Becoming a republic might be a matter of national self-respect for many but doing so was clearly rejected in 1999.

Most people accept, perhaps with reservations, that Charles is our head of state and has long had great affection for us. Despite Thorpe’s abusive denigration, large crowds are showing, thank goodness, that he and Camilla are welcome.

Ron Sinclair, Windradyne, NSW

Lidia Thorpe’s exhibitionist protest during the visit to federal parliament by King Charles III reflects frank hypocrisy (“Royal pain in the House: senator under fire”, 22/10). Senator Thorpe represents Victoria in the federal Senate.

Whatever people think about past history, it may have been instructive for the senator to refresh her understanding of the Constitution. According to the Australian parliament library, the federal parliament consists of the King, represented by the Governor-General, and two Houses – the House of Representatives and the Senate. If she feels so aggrieved by the current make-up of parliament, she should consider resigning. Given she accepted a formal invitation to attend the King’s reception, Senator Thorpe’s “all about me” outburst displayed a comprehensive lack of political maturity and basic manners.

John McCourt, Perth, WA

Parliamentarians must take seriously the promise of allegiance they make in service of the monarch, as required by section 42 of the Constitution – or face the consequences. In 1880 the Commons Speaker imprisoned MP Charles Bradlaugh in Big Ben for declining to pledge allegiance, and in 1997 Gerry Adams was banned from taking his seat for the same refusal. At least they were true to their resolve, in contrast with Senator Lidia Thorpe – who firstly spoke disloyal words when ostensibly pledging allegiance, then grudgingly conformed, but has clearly broken her promise. Senators must now defend the integrity of the pledges they themselves have made, and the honour of the monarch they serve, by requiring Thorpe to absent herself from the Senate until she apologises profusely to the King and his parliament, and restates her allegiance without reservation.

David D’Lima, Sturt, SA

The attention Lidia Thorpe has attracted over the past few days would have exceeded even her expectations. Her brazen and shameful exhibition of bad manners has been carried around the world. No one should be surprised, however, at the licence Thorpe has to broadcast her separatist bile in the parliament. With the election of the Albanese government three flags now occupy both its chambers. When a press conference is held by the PM and his ministers, the three flags accompany them. A casual observer of Monday’s reception in the Great Hall may be forgiven for thinking that the six that formed the backdrop to the King’s address represented the majority of Australians. At last year’s referendum the citizens of this country sent a loud and clear message to the political class – desist in your attempt to divide the nation. As the song goes, “we are one, and free”, and by extension we demand to be represented by a single flag.

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

When Paul Keating called members of the Senate “unrepresentative swill” that pretty well sums up the current situation. It’s bad enough that we already have one member elected on a minuscule number of votes heading off to start her own party.

When is parliament going to mandate that if you resign from the party that got you elected, the position is declared vacant and goes to a by-election. And as far as the Greens are concerned endorsing Lidia Thorpe as a candidate – thanks for nothing. In fact it gives me another reason not to vote for you.

Glenys Clift, Toowoomba, Qld